Learn About Fitting a Muzzle from Expert Michael Shikashio

[@kikopup]

I will add the closed captions after the automatically generated ones are up. Thanks for your patience! :)

[@kikopup]

DONE!

[@StacyBS]

I should have expected such clear, thoughtful and thorough explanation from Michael! I love that he even thought about how a stiff tape measure might scare a dog. Well done Michael and Emily!

[@kikopup]

Yeah! I could totally see someone using that on their dog without thinking.

[@janhankins911]

I love to listen to Michael Shikashio. He has such great information and I always learn so much from him. I wish he blogged! I'd just love to follow him around for a couple of weeks and just absorb all the great information I'd get. I'm afraid I'd make a huge pest of myself, though, always asking questions and begging for information.

[@kikopup]

Have you checked out his podcast? podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bitey-end-of-the-dog/id1521311807

[@allthingsblue6990]

These are great tips. And as has been said- they’re not just for dogs with a bite history. A behavior that isn’t rehearsed is less likely to occur. Preventative muzzling at the vets and groomers is never a bad idea. My dog has no bite history and still wears a muzzle to the vets.

[@TeslaNick2]

Wow, what a treat, Michael is AMAZING, his podcast has helped me loads.

[@kikopup]

:) That's why I asked him to make this video for us! :)

[@TeslaNick2]

@@kikopup Thank you !

[@haventli]

What a great guest to have on. I have never heard of Michael before, so consider this cross over a successful out reach event! My current two dogs have great bite inhibitions and thresholds, however I still muzzle train them. There is probably part of me that hopes one day we'll be able to take muzzled dogs on public transit, but another part of me knows that if they ever have to have a muzzle on for a vet appointment then at least that won't be additional stress for them. That being said I don't have great fitting muzzles, so I will use this info to look for a better fit. Thank you Emily and Michael!!

[@EarthlingCanine]

Also just for extra emphasis for those who may not know, muzzles are not only used in aggresive dog circumstances, they are used for a variety of reasons including conditioning/desensitization, in emergencies, as a just in case, for aggresive dogs (very rarely are dogs truly aggresive), for fearful dogs (commonly), for resource "guarding" dogs (be it resource "guarding" food, territory, or people), for dogs in training, for dogs that try to pick up or eat things they shouldn't, for dogs that go to kennels, for the vet, and in some cases it's just part of the dogs gear to keep people away, not because the dog has any issues but just because the owner does not want their dog interacting with people at that moment!

[@kikopup]

My definition of "aggression" that I go by is that the dog will create physical harm. Not really what is going on in their head but by what damage they are expected to do or have done to other people or non-human animals. And of course we talk about "aggressive dogs" but all dogs and humans for that matter become aggressive when put in specific situations.

[@18thVariation]

^ and during grooming as well!

[@tedjack9184]

Thank you for this information and those links. I have heard Michael Shikashio before and every time I am impressed. As you say: he is an expert in his field.

[@kikopup]

Thanks Ted!

[@terryenby2304]

Thank you! And perfect timing! Was just thinking and searching for muzzles and training methods in case of an emergency for my pup.

[@kikopup]

Glad it was helpful! Here is a short video Michael made on muzzle acclimation: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2bUpKevbthspJI

[@DynastyTrickDogs]

Great discussion and thoughts here.

[@ionicamermaid1141]

Thanks so much! I sadly never heard of him but will now check out his content!

[@kikopup]

Cool! :)

[@lindseycloutier400]

LOVE this video, so helpful for explaining muzzle choice to the every day dog owner!! Thank you so much for this, both of you are doing amazing things for the dog training industry!

[@kikopup]

Thanks for letting us know! :)

[@kitperry8244]

Great collaboration. Thanks for putting this together!

[@kikopup]

:) Thanks!

[@AgnesMariaL]

Excellent video! We bought the Baskerville-style ones that Canadian Tire sells. I love them, because they feel and look comfortable on the dog, and they have an opening for the tongue to allow proper panting or giving kisses :) The only flaw is the hook for the collar: no dog collar (that fits your dog) will reach it, so we have improvised straps to utilize that extra securing point.

[@Hair8Metal8Karen]

That teeny-tiny purple one is super cute!

[@kikopup]

Gah, makes you want to get more teeny tiny dogs to fit the muzzle!

[@Nikki-lodeon]

This is the video I needed! Thank you!!! Now I really hope he redoes the video series on the MuzzleUp Project website. They're impossible to hear.

[@kikopup]

Well, all my older videos also need redoing and the sound is bad. As we learn we get better and better at doing things, the same with training dogs.

[@Nikki-lodeon]

@@kikopup oh for sure! I think all those videos pre-date him anyway.

[@BlakeMowen]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@kikopup]

You’re welcome 😊

[@martinaluisetti]

super useful x

[@TrishHarrison]

Very informative! I want to know what sort of dog wears the big pink one 😅

[@kikopup]

Hehe!

[@EarthlingCanine]

Likely dogs like St Bernards, danes, mountain dogs, malamutes, etc.

[@kikopup]

@@EarthlingCanine Lol I thought the comment meant because it was pink.

[@EarthlingCanine]

@@kikopup to be fair bright colors (especially since biothane muzzles wouldn't or at least shouldn't be used on bite risk dogs) may make it more friendly to help get rid of the stigma that only bite risk aggresive dogs wear muzzles and if, for example, the muzzle is just for a dog that likes to pick up/eat things it shouldn't, then someone who may want to ask to pet the dog may not be as afraid to do so as long as it's okay with owner and dog.

[@EarthlingCanine]

Good rule of thumb for pant room, if your dog can't fit an Average size toy or ball in it's mouth with the muzzle on then the muzzle Is too small regardless of if the dog is a bite risk or not. Great resources for finding a good muzzle type and proper sizing for your dog are the Facebook groups "muzzle up pup, a pro Muzzle community" and "muzzle tips and tricks"

[@kikopup]

Its probably good to say an imaginary toy, just in case people try to stuff a toy in their dogs mouth before putting on a muzzle. After seeing what people did during the pandemic you never know...

[@x3csP]

I was thinking of getting a border collie puppy, I've been researching everything about the breed for a couple of years now and the only problem is the puppy I was thinking of getting is 3 months old and I've seen a lot of people say puppy's should be socialized wen they' re 7 to 8 weeks old , especially whit smaller animals such as cats and chickens, can a 3 month old puppy be socialized whit smaller pets the same way as a 7 to 8 week old puppy or is it better to get a smaller puppy. Your channel is wonderful and you give great advice.

[@tinalangdown2485]

What was the name of that freedom muzzle that he said was for a Dobermann?

[@JoMani88875]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@staciarupp522]

I am having such a hard time finding a muzzle for my dobie girls. Can someone please help! I'm in urgent need.

[@matthewswart278]

❤️❤️❤️

[@emmamemma4162]

My mother in law has just agreed to take in a four year old mini schnauzer with a bite history. Apparently he has bitten people when he's been in a stressful and chaotic situation, with many dogs barking, etc. He will be an only dog, and my mil is a wonderful, experienced and patient dog lover, so no problems there. The problem is she's grown up with the notion that muzzles are terrible contraptions and thinks it would be cruel to make him wear one. What can I say to make her see muzzles are not "bad" and it's in the dogs best interest to wear one in certain situations?

[@kikopup]

I suggest you could help her shop for quite a few of them to choose from, and perhaps choose cute colors and do as Michael did in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2bUpKevbthspJI Just use it as a food bowl for a while. You could send her info and pics of dogs looking comfortable in muzzles. If you have a dog you could teach your dog to wear a cute muzzle and show her how comfortable your dog is.

[@emmamemma4162]

@@kikopup Those are great ideas, thanks a lot!

[@AgnesMariaL]

I think the selling point would be what we experienced, which was basically "we need to introduce our dog to someone who is fearful". Some dogs, even ones who are completely non-aggressive, are just SO overly exhuberant that they make people nervous, ESPECIALLY when those dogs are in the XL or giant category when it comes to size. We have had issues with one of our ladies, but she is super intuitive and has only tried to "eat" people whom she deems to be a threat; conversely, the innocent canvasser who somehow missed the signs prior to entering our property would be greeted with lovin's. But back to my previous point, a muzzle is a valuable tool for making connections whenever there is either the question of safety, or personal confidence of the introductee.

[@NoThankUBeQuiet]

I mean late but I'd be blunt. Do you want a muzzled dog or a dog that is in bite quarantine or worse.

[@emmamemma4162]

@@NoThankUBeQuiet Absolutely! The dog ended up going to the breeders daughter instead, so I never had to have the muzzle discussion with my MIL.

[@joinsystemeio]

Hello Emily, I am an affiliate, I would want to promote if you have any breed specific video course or membership. Something like that. I have never seen information that I found on your channel.

[@AnnainAwe]

Facebook group that will give you one-on-one hand holding to get the proper measurements as well as training guidance: facebook.com/groups/muzzletrainingandtips/?ref=share

[@aarondilley5266]

I have never seen one of the how to fit a muzzle with a real dog they never stay this still. you can also use a tailors tape measure they are 3$ get im amazon or walmart

[@bubbag8895]

A muzzle is a bit too aversive imo .. I thought this channel was force free?

[@kikopup]

Nothing is intrinsically punishing or reinforcing. We can condition a punisher to be a reinforcer and a reinforcer to be a punisher. and they are constantly changing intensity depending on the situation. If you had an uncomfortable muzzle that is a different story. But it is compulsory for dogs to wear muzzles at certain times, like visiting the er with an injury where the staff do not want to risk being bitten. If you can you can restrain your dog for them but sometimes there are situations where they will muzzle your dog, so working on training them to be comfortable as possible in a muzzle is extremely important. Also when working with dogs who have caused damaging bites, its important to keep their owners safe at times during training. The muzzle can be avoided a lot, for example using a fence which I like to do , but if you have a dog that can suddenly turn and bite their owner when excited its just a safety for an emergency. but definitely people do use muzzles in ways I think are not fair or even traumatic to the dog. Heres a video of conditioning a muzzle using positive reinforcement kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXu3ppZ8o9J0mNk

[@crystal.matter]

Wow the white vinyl one with holes seems to be something I've been looking for. When I was muzzle training my dog for possible future emergencies, everything went fine until he suddenly tried to paw it and his toe got stuck in the metal basket part of the muzzle while he was wearing it. Since then I've been looking for something that eliminates that risk.

[@kikopup]

That happened to my terrier with his Rex Spex for his vision issue, in one millisecond he'd gotten his foot trapped in the chin strap and freaked out. Thank goodness it was in my back yard while we were still training, but it was a horrible experience for him.

[@aarondilley5266]

I had the same thing happen to mine it was rather upsetting but i was able to calm him and get his toe out he hasn't tried again